Machine for pitting and stuffing fruits.



No. 7 |s,3s|. Patented Dec. I6, 1902..

S. M. BROWN; MACHINE FOB FITTING AND STUFFING FRUITS.

(Application mad June 26, v1901.

' 6 Shanta-Sheet I.

(N6 Model.)

jive i (Ida No. 7l6,33l. Patentd Dec. l6, I902. s. m. snow".

MACHINE FOB FITTING AND STUFFING FRUITS.

(Application filed kune 20, 1901. N 0 M o d e I.)

6 Sheets- Sheet 2.

No. 7|s,33|.- Patented Dec. l6, I902.

' v S. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOB FITTING AND STUFFING FRUITS. [Application filed June 20, 196;. (N? MpdeL) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

i H &

- Patented Dec; l6, I902.

S.,M. BROWN. MACHINE FOB FITTING AND STUFFINGFBUITS.

(AppHca tion filed June 20. 1991.) I (No Modai.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

f jizwzaon VeZazrfiBronw' No. 7|6,33I. Patented Dec.'l6, I902. S. M. BROWN.

MACHINE FOB PJTTING AND STUFFING FRUITS.

(Application filed. June 20, 1901. (No Model.)

6 Sheats-Sheet -5.

VII/II/IIIIIIl/IA IZZ/L EEW n45 Noam: v21 :ns cu. worm mm. WASNXNGTON. e. c.

* 1 T V ED- STATES:

PATENT OFFICE.

SILA S M. 1 3ltOW l l,.OFCHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO REID, MURDOCH 85 COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

MACHINE. FOR P lTT lNGlAND STUFFING FRUITS.

SPEGIFIGATIQN forming ea a Letters Patent No. 716,331, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed June 20, 19011.. Serial No. 65,281. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it rmty concern:

. Stuffing Fruits, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference beinghad t the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to a novel machine for pitting and stuffing fruits or the like; and

the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed outin 'the appended claims.

. The invention is herein shown as embodied in a machine generally like the machine shown in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 667,423, granted February 5, 1901; but it will be understood that certain of the features herein shown may be employed in a machine varying fromthe construction of said prior machine. It will also be under- 2 5 stood that certain of the features of the present improvements may be employed independently of the other features in connection with which they are illustrated, and with respect to these features I do not wish to be limited to the combination with which they are herein shown as embodied, excepting as hereinafter made the subject of combination "claims.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a front elevation of amachine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine.

. Fig- 2 is afra'gmentary View illustrating in front elevation the locking devicefor the carrier-chainand the means for pressing or holding the articles in the holder while being stuffed; Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the machine, showing more especially the holders and carrier therefor and also certain parts in section. FigsAQ-S, and 6 illustrate constructions of the holders. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of ,the machine, showing more particularly the pitting mechanism. Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the machine, showing more particularly the stuffing mechanism. 5oFig. 9 is a view showing a fragment of the stuffing mechanism and devices for operating mechanism.

ward end of a lever E ing the plunger thereof. Fig. 10 illustrates Beit known that I, SILAS M. BROWN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of j flllinois, have invented certain new and useful 5 Improvements in Machines for Pitting and the cam and part of the lever for operating a positive feeding mechanism in the hopper for the stuffing mechanism. Fig. 11 illustrates the cam and one end of the cam-lever for actuating the charging-plate of the stuff- Fig. 12 is a plan detail showing the driving-shaft of the machine and the various cams and parts of the levers for effecting the various operations of the machine. Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, illustrate the mechanism for giving the carrier for the holders a step-by-step advance movement.

As shown in the drawings, A designates a generally rectangular base-plate of the machine, which is supported by standards a on a subbase A, which latter is supported at the upper ends of legs or standards A B designates a main driving-shaft, which is supported in hangers B, depending from the said subbase A and on which are mounted the various cams for effecting the several operations of the machine.

B designates a driving-pulley fixed to the shaft B.

First describing the holders and mechanisms for moving the same step by step, these parts are made as follows:

C Cdesignate a plurality of holders, which are mounted on a carrier D, located just outside of one margin of the base-plate, with the upper lap thereof in the same general plane as the base-plate. Said carrier in the presentinstance has the form of a sprocket-chain; but it may be otherwise constructed. The carrier is trained about wheels or pulleys E, affixed to shafts E, extending transversely under the base-plate at each end thereof and mounted on suitable hangers depending from go said base-plate. The shafts E are rotated to give the carrier a step-by-step movement by the following mechanism, illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive:

E designates a disk affixed rigidly to one 5 of the shafts E and provided at its front face,

near its periphery, with four forwardly-projecting pins e.

E designates a vertically-reciprocating link which is pivoted at its lower end to the for- Said lever E is pivoted at its rear end to a horizontal shaft E mounted in depending brackets or hangers (1, depending from said base-plate of the machine. Said lever is provided between its ends with a roller which turns freely on a laterally-projecting stud and which roller engages the periphery of a cam-disk E affixed rigidly to the main driving-shaft B. The upper end of the link E is vertically slotted and fits over the shaft E adjacent to the disk E Pivoted at its lower end to said link is a pawl e which is notched at its upper end to engage either of the pinse of the disk as they are brought into proper position for such engagement. Said pawl is placed under the influence of a contractile spring 6 which tends to move the same toward the link to which it is pivoted. The outer margin of said pawl is elongated to form a finger e which prevents disengagement of the pawl with the pins 6 during certain portions of the operation of the device.

a designates a spring-pressed detent which is notched on its lower margin to engage either of the pins e as they are moved into proper position for such engagement, said pawl being pivoted at one end to a lug or bracket a which depends from the base-plate.

e designates a stop on the link E adapted to engage one of the pins 6 at the time the pawl has been moved upwardly to the limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 16. The operation of this device is as follows: The link E is shown in its lowermost position in Figs. 13 and 15, at which time the pawl e is in position for engagement with one of the lowermost pins e of the disk E The rotation of the driving-shaft B in the proper direction moves the eccentric part of the disk E between the shaft and the link and causes the link to rise, said link being permitted to rise by reason of the slotted connection of the upper end thereof with the shaft E. Upon the rising of the link in the manner described the engagement of the pawl with one of the pins 6 causes the disks E and the shaft connected therewith to rotate in the direction of the hands of a clock. As herein shown, four pins 6 are provided, whereby in each operation of the device the shaft E is caused to turn one-fourth of a complete rotation. When the link and pawl have reached the upper limit of their movement, the stop e is brought into engagement with one of the pins e, which arrests the rotation of the shaft, and in the further rotation of the cam-disk E the link and pawl descend by gravity, the notched end of the pawl when completely depressed engaging the next succeeding pin 6. At the time the disk is brought to a stop by the engagement of the stop 6 with one of the pins 6 the notch of the detent e is engaged with one of the pins at the upper part of the disk and during the descent of the link and pawl acts to hold-said disk from rotation. The detent a may be depended upon alone to arrest the movement of the disk; but it is preferred that positive means of retardation, such as the stop 6 be provided. The parts of the machine are so proportioned that movement of the shaft E and sprocket-wheel carried thereby through one-quarter of a rotation moves the carrier D through a space equal to the distance between the pitting mechanism and stuffing mechanism, and the parts are so arranged that when the shaft E is arrested, and therefore the carrier is brought to a stop, one of the holders 0 will be located beneath the pitting mechanism and another of the holders beneath the stufiing mechanism.

Means are provided for locking the carrier in its position of rest, so as to hold the holders in proper position with respect to pitting and stuffing mechanisms. Such devices are made as follows: F, Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, designates a vertically-movable slide engaging suitable guides F at the front of the machine and located, as herein shown, in line with the stuffing mechanism. Said slide is provided with a hook-shaped upper end F which has a suitablyshaped extremity f, adapted to fit into the opening of one of the links of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 3, when said slide is in its lowermost position and the carrier is brought to a position of rest. Said slide is vertically reciprocated through the medium of a lever F which is pivoted at its rear end to the shaft E and at its forward end to a vertical link F which latter is connected at its upper end with the slide. Said lever F is provided between its ends with a stud having a roller-bearing sleeve which engages the periphery of an actuating-cam F mounted on the driving-shaft B. The parts are so arranged that the slide F will be raised during the time the carrier-actuating mechanism is in operation, and after said carrieractuating mechanism has been arrested, and thereby stops the movement of the carrier, the slide F is depressed either by gravity or spring action to bring the extremityfthereof into locking engagement with one of the links of the carrier. Connected with said carrier-locking mechanism is a device for holding the olives in the holder during the time they are receiving the charge of stuffing material from the charging mechanism and constructed to prevent the olives rising during this operation. Said device consists of a vertically-reciprocating rod G, movable with the slide F and provided at its upper end with a hooked portion, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The extremity g of said hooked portion has the form of a circular loop and is located over the line of travel of the holders.- Said rod G is movable with the slide, so that when the slide is depressed the extremity of the rod enters one of the holders to lightly engage an olive therein and serves as a keeper to prevent the olive rising. Said keeper-rod G has sliding engagement with lugs f on the front face of the slide F, and interposed between the lower one of said lugs and a collar on the lower end of the rod is a spiral expansivelyacting spring 9 which tends to depress the rod by a horizontal part 9 is a vertical guide arm 9 which has sliding engagement with a lug g at one side of the upper lugf said guide-rod being thus offset from the keeper rod. A spiral expansively-acting spring 9 is interposed between the said connecting part g and the lug 9 which spr-ingacts in unison with the spring 9 Said springs g g serve to normally hold the connecting or offset part g against the lower guide-lugf said parts constituting astop to limit the downward movement of the keeper-rod.

The holders 0 are made as follows: Said holders each consist of two jaws c 0, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, pivoted at their rear ends on pivotstnds 0 which project upwardly from a plate 0, made integral with one of the links of the carrier, so as to swing in parallel horizontal Both jaws are provided at their for= ward ends with elevated fingers 0 which are 'sodisposed with respect to the jaws and to each other as toform the upper part of a suitably-shaped pocket to receive the olives. The lower end of the pocket is formed in the plate 0, said plate being suitably recessed below the outer ends of the jaws. Said plate is pro vided at the bottom of the recess therein with an aperture 0 through which the pit of the olive may be expelled. Said jaws are held in their closed positions by means of a compression-spring 0 which is coiled between its ends, and the extremities of said spring engage apertures on the upper faces of the jaws. Said spring is held in place by means of a plate C as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, located thereover and affixed to the pivotlugs of said jaws. Said jaws are provided on their adjacent margins near their pivot ends with intermeshing-gear segments a", which give synchronism of movement to the jaws. One of the jawsthe jaw c, as here shownis provided with a lug 0 which is adapted to engage a suitable projection located in its path of travel to open the jaws.

Next describing the pitting mechanism and the parts associated therewith, said parts are made as follows: H designates an upright column rising from the base-plate at the rear thereof,and H H horizontally-disposed guidearms projecting forwardly from said column. H Fig. 7, designates a vertically-reciprocating plunger, which is provided on one end with a rigid forwardly-projecting arm 71, which latter carries at its outer end a pitting-punch H said punch being rigidly connected with the arm 71. The lower end of said plunger extends through an opening in the base-plate. Said punch passes through vertically-alined guide-apertures in theforward ends of thearms H, which serve to maintain the punch in proper vertical alinement. The plunger H is located between its ends in a verticaltube H rising from the base-plate of the machine. Said tube is supported above its ends by engagement with one of the guide-arms H andhas screw-threaded engagement at .its lower end with an upwardly-opening socket in the baseAin the manner shown in Fig. '7. Surrounding said plunger within said tube and located between the upper arms H and a collar h on the plunger is a spiral expansion-spring H, which tends to hold the plunger and punch in their downward positions. Means are provided for elevating said plunger and punch, which means are operated from the drivingshaft B of the machine, and when said plunger and punch have been elevated to the upper limits of their movements they are released from said elevating means and said punch is depressed by the spring Hiassisted by the weight of the associated parts. The means for elevating the said plunger and the punch carried thereby consists of a verticallyreciprocating lever 1-1, which is pivoted at its rear end to the shaft E and is pivotallyconnected at its forward end to a pusher-bar H located beneath the plunger H The contact ends of said plunger and bar are flattened to form horizontal bearing-surfaces in the manner shown in Fig. 7. The lever 11 is swung upwardly by means of a cam 1H affixed to the driving-shaft B, said lever having a laterally-projecting roller-bearing k engaging the periphery of said cam H Said cam is provided on its periphery with an abrupt drop, which permits the lever H to drop suddenly when the bearing-roller thereof passes into engagement with this part of the cam. The parts are so constructed that the pusher-bar will be moved out of alinement with the plunger H when at the upper limits of their movement, thereby permitting. said plunger and punch to descend under the action of gravity, assisted by the spring H. The latter construction is shown in Fig. 7 and is made as follows: Said pusher-bar is provided at its upper end with a rigid arm 71 having the form of a hook on the upper end of the bar, which engageswhen moved upwardly a curved cam-plate H", depending from the base-plate of the machine. Said pusher-bar is pivoted at its lower end to the lever B, and a spring 71 surrounding the pivot-pin of the bar, acts on the bar to move the same forwardly and in line with the plunger H When said pusher-bar is moved upwardly by the cam-disk H engagement of the arm W of said pusher-bar with the camplate H acts to move said pusher-bar rearwardly against the action of the spring h and said plate at the extreme upper movement of the bar and plunger moves the pusherbar rearwardly sufficiently to permit the plunger and punch carried thereby to drop into their lowermost positions. Just after the plunger and punch have dropped, in the manner described, the drop or straight portion of the cam H permits the lever H and pusherbar to drop to bring the upper end of the i on a pivot-studj, attached to the base-plate pusher-bar below the lower end of the punch, so as to raise the latter in the next operation of the pitting mechanism.

The flattened orenlarged ends of the pusherbar and plunger are inclined on the lower and upper sides, respectively, thereof, so that when the pusher-bar is moved to its lowermost position the spring 7L acts to move said bar in alinement with the plunger, the arm h of said bar being at this time below the active part of the cam-plate H Nextdescribing the stuffing mechanism and the parts associated therewith, said parts are made as follows: I, Figs. 8 and 9, designates a vertical cylindric hopper located over the base-plate and having its mouth located with in a flaring upwardly-projecting nipple I, constituting the discharge orifice or mouth of the hopper. Said nipple is connected with or formed on a plate 1 attached to the upper face of the base-plate and rises from said plate. Located below the plate I is a charging-plate 1 which is provided with a vertical charging-chamber i, formed partly in a tubular extension 1 formed on or made integral with the charging-plate. Said charging-plate is adapted to be reciprocated transversely of the'baseplate, so as to bring the chargingchamber of the same alternately under the discharge-orifice of the hopper and one of the holders 0, which latter is at this time located in line with the hopper. In the operation of the device the charging-chain ber of the plate 1 is moved in line with the discharge-orifice of the hopper and receives a charge of stuffing material, which is segregated from the mass within the hopper. Thereafter said plate is moved forwardly to bring the segregated charge under one of the holders 0 and a pitted olive contained therein. Said segregated charge is ejected from the chargingplate and forced into apitted olive, after the last-mentioned movement has taken place, by means of a plunger 1 which reciprocates Within the tube 1 The devices for effecting these movements of the charging-plate are made as follows: J designates a lever pivoted and swinging in a vertical plane. Said lever J is provided at its lower end with a bearingroller j, which travels in the groove of a reverse-cam J, affixed to the driving-shaft B. The form of said cam-groove is shown in Fig. 11. The upper end of said lever J is pivoted to the rear end of a link J the forward end of which is pivoted to a depending stud t on the charging-plate 1 With this construction one complete rotation of the cam J will move said charging-plate under the path of the holders and return the same beneath the hopper,the former movement beingeifected when the eccentric part of the cam is between the shaft B and lever J. When the chargingplate is in its forwardmost position, with the chargingchamber under the path of the holders, the plunger I is elevated to force the charge in said charging-chamber into an olive contained in a superimposed holder.

The means for moving the plunger upwardly at the time the charging-chamber of the plate I is located under one of' the holders are made as follows: K designates a lever arranged longitudinally of the base-plate and pivoted at one end to the left-hand carriershaft E and pivotally connected at its other end with a head 1 on the lower end of the plunger 1 The pivotal connection of said lever K with the head of the plunger 1 is such as to permit the charging-plate and plunger to have relative horizontal movement, said head for this purpose having sliding engagement with the lever. As herein shown, said head is provided with a parti-cylindric horizontally-arranged projection I located between fork-arms [13 on the adjacent end of the lever K. Said lever K is swung on its pivot to move the plunger I toward a superjacent holder by means of a lever L, which is pivoted at its rear end to the shaft E and at its forward end to the lower end of a link L, the upper end of said link being pivotally connected with the lever K in the manner shown in Fig. 9. Said leverLis provided between its ends with a bearing-roller, which engages the periphery of a cam-disk L which is affixed to the driving-shaft B. The lever L is provided at its pivotal connection with the shaft E with a spring Z which acts to return the lever L and the plunger 1 connected therewith, after the plunger has been elevated by the cam L Said plunger is elevated when the cam projection Z of said cam is engaged with the roller-bearing of the lever L. It will of course be understood that the elevation of the plunger takes place when the carriers D and holders 0 are at rest.

Means are provided for varying the charging capacity of the charging-chamber, so as to permit the same machine to be adapted for stuffing olives of varying sizes and which will also enable olives of the same size to be more or less filled with the stuffing material. The devices for effecting this result are made as l'IO follows: K, Figs. 8 and 9,designates a bracket depending from the base-plate of the machine and provided at its lower end with an upwardly-opening notch adapted to receive the leverK. Passingupwardlythroughthelower end of said bracket and with its upper end adapted to bear against the lowermarginof the said lever, by which the position of rest of the lever K may be varied,is a set-screw K With this construction it will be observed that the final lowermost position of the lever K and the plunger 1 connected therewith, will depend-upon the adjustment of the set-screw K The position of the plunger within the tube I determines the capacity of the charging-chamber of the charging-plate, so that by raising or lowering the set-screw the height of the plunger with respect to the tube 1 and consequent capacity of the charging-chamber,

willbe varied, depending upon the direction of adjustment of the adj usting-screwthat is tosay, if said plunger be lowered below the position thereof shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the capacity of the charging-chamber will be increased, while if said plunger be elevated above the position shown in said figu res when at its lowest position the size of said charging-chamber will be decreased and the size of the charge to be inserted into the olive correspondingly decreased. With this construction I am enabled to vary the size of the charge without the necessity of substituting parts of the machine, the adjustment requiring merely a slight turn of the adj ustingscrew K in the direction desired. 7

I have provided in connection with the hopper I means for positively delivering to the charging-chamber of the charging-plate a charge of the stuffing material sufficient to fill said chamber in each operation of the machine. Said means consists in the present instance of the following devices. M, Figs. 8 and 9, designates awing or flap which is pivoted at one end thereof and at one side of the discharge-orifice of the hopper on a short rock-shaft m, which extends through the wall of the nipple I and has rotative bearing engagement therewith. The said plate side with a recess to receive the wing or plate i when thrownupwardly in its uppermost position. Said wing or flap is actuated in the present instance by means of the following devices. The shaft m is provided outside of the nipple I with a gear-wheel M, which is engaged by a rack formed on the upper end of a vertically-reciprocatory bar N, the lower end of said bar being pivotally connected with the forward end of a lever N, the rear end of which lever is pivotally connected with the shaft E The said lever N is provided between its ends with a bearing-roller n, which engages a cam-groove n in a reverse cam N Fig. 10, affixed to the driving-shaft B of the machine. Said cam-groove is provided with a short rise M, which causes the bar N to be elevated and the flap or wing M depressed. This action occurs when the charging-plate is located under the dischargeorifice of the hopper.

Means are provided for exerting pressure on the upper surface of the material contained within the hopper I, so as to insure said ma-' terial being uniformly fed to the discharge end of the hopper. Said means consists of a piston or plunger O,conta'ined within the hopper, Fig. 2, having a piston-rod O attached at its lower end to the piston and passing upwardly from the hopper, said rod having bearing engagement'witha suitable spider 0, connected with the upper end of the hopper. 0 designates a weight having a pulley 0 connected therewith, which pulley is located in the bight of a cable 0 which latter is trained about guide-pulleys 0 0 connected with a frame 0, supported on the column H of the machine, the free ends of said cables being attached to oppositely-extending arms 0 on the upper end of the piston-rod 0'. With this construction a constant downward pull or thrust is exerted by the piston on the material in the hopper, which insures a uniform feed or delivery of said material to the discharge end of the hopper. The piston may be raised against the action of the weight by means of a cable P, which is attached at one end in any suitable manner to the piston-rod and at its other end to a Windlass P, which is operated by a crank-shaft P and is locked by means of a click or detent pand ratchet-wheel p, the latter of which is connected with the shaft of the Windlass.

Means are desirably provided for holding the jaws of the olive-holders together at the time the pitting operation is taking place, so as to hold the jaws firmly against the olive contained therein. Said means consists of swinging arms or plates Q, pivoted at their outer ends on the base-plate adjacent to the position of the holders when the latter are arrested beneath the pitting-punch and the inner margins of which are serrated to engage the fingers of the holders in a manner shown in Fig. 3. Springs Q engage said arms and act to hold the jaws in yielding engagement with the olives.

Desirablyachute is provided below the pitting-punch and located to receive the pits as they are expelled from the olives. Said chute is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7 and consists of a short tube R connected with the base-plate of the machine and depending therefrom,with its upper end in aliuement with an aperture in the base-plate and in position to receive the pits as they are expelled from the olives. In the operation of the machine a suitable receptacle will desirably be placed beneath the chute to receive the pits as they are dis charged from the chute.

The means for opening the jaws to release the olives therefrom after they have been stuffed consists of two vertical plates S, Figs. 1 and 2, which are supported on a bracket S. rising from the subbase of the machine near one end thereof. Said plates are located a sufficient distance apart to permit the holders to pass therethrough and provided with inclined surfaces against which the lugs cl of the holders bear while passing between the plates in amanner to open the jaws of said holders. Said plates are located in position to cooperate with the holders just as said holders pass to the lower lap of the carrier and when, therefore, the holders are inverted. In case the olives should not be released from said holders by the means described I have provided an ejecting device connected with the slide F of the locking device. Said ejector device consists of a suitably-shaped rod T, the extremity of which is located in the path of the holders on the lower lap of the carrier and adapted when the slide is depressed and the carrier and holders are at rest to pass through one of the holders. If said holder contains an olive which has not been released therefrom when the jaws of the holder were previously opened, the rod T passing through said holder will effectively eject the same.

The operation of the machine as a whole may be'briefly recapitulated as follows: The unpitted olives are placed in the holders 0 in advance of the pitting mechanism at a time when the carrier is brought to a stop, and for this purpose the holders may be at this time automatically opened by a device similar to that shown in my prior patent, No. 667,423, before referred to. After the holder has been charged with an unpitted olive the carrier-actuating devices (illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive,) are set in operation in the manner heretofore described to turn the shaft E through one-quarter of a revolution, which brings the unpitted olive under the pitting-punch. While this movement of the carrier is taking place the cam H is acting, through the lever H and pusherbar H, to elevate the plunger H and pittingpunch H connected therewith. After the carrier has been brought to a stop the carrierlocking device is depressed to bring the locking endf of the hook F of the slide F in engagement with one of the links of the carrier to hold said carrier from movement. This movement of the slide also brings the keeperrod G into engagement with an olive in a holder adjacent thereto, if such holder contains an olive at this time. After the carrierlocking device has been brought into action the pusher-bar H is released from the plunger H and the plunger and pitting-punch allowed to drop. thereby expelling the pit from the olive contained in the holder under the pitting mechanism. The holder under the pitting mechanism has previously passed between the jaws or plates Q, which act upon the fingers of the jaws to hold said jaws yieldingly against the olive, and thereby hold the olive in position to properly receive the pitting-punch. After the pitting-punch has descended in the manner described and expelled the pit from the olive the lever 11 passes off the raised part of the cam 11 and permits said lever and the pusher-bar to descend, said pusher-bar in its descent passing under and engaging with the plunger H in a manner to raise the plunger and the pittingpunch away from the olive justpitted during the subsequent rise of the pusher-bar. After said plunger has been raised away from the olive the carrier is then moved to bring the olivejus't pitted under the stuffing mechanism and another olive under the pitting mechanism. While the pitting mechanism has been inoperation in the mannerdescribedthecharging-plate is located with the charging-chamber thereof beneath the discharge end of the hopperI, and the wing or plate M in said hopper is depressed to force a charge of material into said charging-chamber. After said olive has been pitted and the carrier is moving the holder containing the pitted olive to the stuffing mechanism the charging-plate containing a segregated charge of the material is moved so as to bring said charge under the pitted olive and holder containing the same. After said holder is brought to a stop over said charging-plate and the carrier locked by the locking devices described the cam L operates to raise the plunger 1 and force the segregated charge of material into the unpitted oli've located thereover. At this time the keeper-rod is pressed yieldingly against the upper end of the olive to preventsaid olive rising during the stuffing operation. While the pitted olive is being stuffed in the manner described,anotherunpittted olive has been fed to the pitting mechanism and the pit discharged therefrom. When the stuffing operation has been completed, the carrier is again advanced another step, and when the holder containing the pitted and stuffed olive is passed between the ejecting-plates S the jaws of the holder are separated. The holder is at this time in an inverted position, and the separation of the jaws of the holder permits the olive to be released therefrom. In case, however, the olive be not released from the holder at this time it will be ejected from said holder in the next movement of the carrier by the ejector-rod 'l in the manner before described. The unpitted olives are therefore fed continuously to the holders and are by said holders carried successively under the pitting and stuffing mechanism and automatically discharged from said holders.

WVhile I have herein shown a practical organized machine containing my improvements, 1 do not wish to be restricted thereto, except as hereinafter made the subject of specific claims, as it will be evident that the details of construction herein shown may be widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the carrier by which the olives are successively brought under the action of the pitting and stuffing mechanisms may be differently constructed and may operate in a different mannerfrom thathereinshown. Asbeforestated, some of the features of construction herein shown may be employed independently of the other features of construction. For instance,

some of the features of the pitting and stuffing mechanisms may be employed in a pitting -.machine or stuftingmachine, respectively, and claims are hereinafter directed to parts of the pitting and stuffing devices withthereafter stuffing the resulting cavity with a desired substance, either of the character mentioned or other suitable material.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a pitting-punch, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, and a carrier constructed to move t said holders successively to and past the pitting-punch in a step-by-step movement, of clasping means located in the. path of the holders which engage each holder when the latteris broughtto rest in line with the punch.

.2. A machine .for the purpose stated, comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, and a carrier constructed tomove said holders in astepby-step move mentsuccessively to and past the pitting and stufiing mechanisms, of meanslocated in the path of the holders which engages each holder when the latter is brought to rest in line with the punch of the pitting mechanism.

3. The combination with a pitting-punch, a holder for the article being operated upon embracingtwo jaws, a spring for holding said jaws closed, and two spring-pressed levers adapted to engage thejaws, when the punch is operated, to supplement the actuatingspring for thejaws. i

4. The combination with a pitting-punch, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, each comprising two yieldinglyconnected jaws provided at their endswith upwardly-directed fingers forming a pocket for the article to be operated upon, and a carrier constructed to move said holders successively to and past the pitting-punch, of two spring-pressed levers pivoted to a sta-. tionary part of the machine and located beneath the pitting-punch, and between which the holders pass, said levers engaging the fingers of said holders in a manner to maintain theholders in their closed positions.

:5. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, a carrier for said holders, mechanism constructed to move said carrier step by step to bring said holders successively to and past the pitting and stufiing mechanisms, and a locking device acting on the carrier for locking thecarrier in its position of rest. I

6. The combination with a [reciprocating pitting-punch, a plurality of holders located one inadvance of the other, a carrier for said holders, and mechanism constructed to move said carrier step by step to bring said holders successively to and past the pitting-punch, of a locking device acting on the carrier for looking the carrier in its position of rest.

. 7. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, a chain carrier constructed to move said holders in a step-by-step movement successively to and past the pitting and stuffing mechanisms, and means interlocking with the links of the chain carrier for looking said carrier in its position of rest.

8. The combination with aplurality ofholders, an endless-chain carrier to which said holders are attached, and pulleys about which said carriers are trained and forming parts of a carrier-actuating mechanism which advances the carrier step by step, of a slide which re ciprocates verticallyin the machineframe, and movable in unison with the carrier-actuating mechanism, said slide being provided with a locking lug or projection which engages the links of the carrier to lock the carrier in its position of rest.

9. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, a carrier constructed to move said holders step by step successively toand past the pitting and stuffing mechanisms, and means for holding the articles from rising in the holders while being stuffed.

10. In a machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a plurality of holders located one in advance of the other, a carrier constructed to move said holders successively to and past the pitting and stuifing mechanisms, and-a keeper constructed to bear yieldingly against the article contained in the holder and opposed to the action of the stuffing mechanism while said article is being stuffed.

11. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a plurality of holdersarranged one in advance of the other, a carrier constructed to advance said holders step by step successively to and past the pitting and stuffing mechanisms, a locking device for locking said carrier in its position of rest, and means carried by and acting with said locking device for preventing the articles from rising in the holders while being stuffed.

1:2. A machine for the purpose stated, comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing.mechanism, a plurality of holders arranged one in advance of the other, a carrier constructed to advance said holders step by step successively to and past the pitting and stuffing mecha11 isms, a locking device movable in unison with bear downwardly upon the article contained within the holder while said article is being stuffed.

13. The combination with astuffing mechanism, a holder constructed to hold the article while being stuffed, and means bearing yieldingly against said article while being stuffed in a direction opposed to the action of the stuffing mechanism to prevent the article being moved away from the stufling mechanism during the stuffing operation.

14. A holder for the purpose setforth, comprising two yieldingly connected,pivoted jaws constructed to form a pocket for the article to be operated upon and a perforated bottom plate, said jaws being provided at their pivoted ends with intermeshing gear-segments.

15. A holder for the purpose set forth comprising two yieldingly connected,pivotedjaws constructed to form the upper part of a pocket for the article to be operated upon, said jaws being provided at their pivoted ends with intermeshing gear-segments and a plate below said jaws to which they are pivoted said plate having a recess constituting the lower part of said pocket and being apertured centrally of said recess.

16. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, a receptacle for stuffing material, a holder, means for carrying the holder from the pitting mechanism to said receptacle, mechanism constructed to segregate charges of stuffing material from the mass contained within the receptacle, and

for inserting said charges into a hole made by the punch of thepitting mechanism in an article contained in said holder, and means for varying the size of such charges.

17. The combination with a receptacle for containing stuffing material, a holder which is movable relatively to the receptacle to bring the holder in line with the discharge-orifice of the receptacle, and means for segregating charges of stufiing material from the mass contained within the receptacle, and for inserting such segregated charges into a hollow article contained in said holder, of means for varying the size or quantity of the segregated charges.

18. The combination with a receptacle for containing stuffing material and a holder for containing the article to be stu tfed, of a charging member provided with a charge-receiving chamber, means for moving said charging member to bring the charge-receiving chamber thereof alternately in line with the discharge-orifice of the receptacle and the holder, and means for varying the charging capacity of said charge-receiving chamber.

19. The combination with a receptacle for containing stuffing material and a holder for the article to be stuffed, of a charging member provided with a charge-receiving chamber, means for moving said charging member to bring the charge-receiving chamber alternately in line with the discharge-orifice of the receptacle and the holder, a reciprocating plunger adapted to eject segregated charges from the chamber when brought under the holderinto the article contained in the holder, and means for varying the lowest position of the plunger with respect tothe charging member whereby the charging capacity of the charge-receiving chamber is varied.

20. The combination with a receptacle for containing stuffing material provided with adischarge-orifice, a charging member having a charge-receiving chamber adapted to be brought under the discharge-orifice of the receptacle, a holder for containing the article to be stuffed, means for imparting relative movement of the charging member to the receptacle to bring the charge-receiving cham ber of said charging memberin line with said discharge-orifice of the receptacle, said char ing member being also adapted to be brought in line with the holder, means for ejecting the charge from said charging member into a hollow article contained in the holder, and means for varying the charging capacity of the charge-receiving chamber.

21. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a holder for the articles operated upon, means for movingsaid holder from the pitting to the stuffing mechanism, and means for varying the size of the charge inserted by said stuffingmechanism into the articles contained in said holder. 7

22. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, a receptacle for stuffing material, a holder for the articles operated upon movable from the pitting mechanism to said receptacle, a charging member having achamber to receive a charge of stuffing material from the receptacle, means for inserting the charge from said charging member into a hollow article contained in the holder and means located at the dischargeorifice of the receptacle forpositively forcing a charge therefrom into said charging-chamber.

23. A machine for the purpose stated comprising a reciprocating punch, a receptacle for stuffing material, a holder for articles to be stuffed, a charging member provided with a charge-receiving chamber adapted to be alternately brought in line with the dischargeorifice of the receptacle and said holder, and a pivoted wing or plate at the discharge-orifice of the receptacle for positively forcing charges of material from the receptacle into said charge-receiving chamber.

24. The combination with a receptacle for containing the stuffing material, a holder for containing the article to be stuffed, and mechanism for segregating charges of the stuffing material from the receptacle and inserting the same into a hollow article contained in said holder, of a pivoted plate contained in the discharge orifice of the receptacle for positively forcing a given charge of stuffing material from the receptacle at each operation of the mechanism.

7 r 25. The combination with a receptacle for containing the stuffing material, a holder for containingthe article to bestufied,and"me,ch-

anism for segregating charges of the stufling 'material'from the receptacle and inserting the same into a hollow article contained in said holder, of a pivoted plate contained in said discharge-orifice of the receptacle for positively forcing a given charge of stufling material from the receptacle at each operation of the mechanism, a sliding plunger in I said receptacle adapted to bear on the mate rialtherein, and'a weight connected with said plunger adapted to forcethe same down upon said material.

26; The combination with a receptacle for containing stufling material, means for segregating charges of the stuffing material from said receptacle and forcing said charges into the articles to be stuffed, a piston sliding in said receptacle and bearing on the material therein, a piston-rod connected with said piston, laterally-directed arms on the outer end of said rod, a cable connected with said arms,

a weight connected with said cable, and guide pulleys supported on the machine-frame over which said cable passes. a

27. The combination with a receptacle for containing the stuffing material and a holder for the article being stuffed, of a charging member provided with a charging-chamber,

means for reciprocating saidcharging mem- 1 ber to bring the charging-chamber thereof alternately in linewith the discharge-orifice of the receptacle and of the holder, a plunger working in saidcharging-chamber to eject the charges of material therefrom into the arreceptacle and provided with a transverse charging-chamber, and a reciprocating plunger therein which moves with the charging member, of means for reciprocating said charging member, and means for reciprocating said punch, said punch and the actuating mechanism therefor having relative sliding connections.

29. The combination with a stuffing-material receptacle, a movable charging member cooperating with the discharge-orifice of said receptacle and provided with a transverse charging-chamber, and a plunger reciprocating in said chamber and movable with the charging member, of means for reciprocating said charging member, and aswinging lever connected with said plunger for reciprocating said plunger, said plunger being provided with a bearing-surface which engages a slot or groove in the lever, whereby said plunger has sliding movement with respect toits actuating-lever.

30. The combination with a stuffing-mate- 'rial receptacle, a movable charging member cooperating with the discharge-orifice of said receptacle, and provided with a transverse charging-chamber, and a plunger reciprocating in said chamber and movable with the charging member, of means for reciprocating said charging member, a swinging lever connected with said plunger for reciprocating the plunger, said plunger being provided with a bearing-surface which engages a slot or groove in the actuating-lever, whereby said plunger has movement with respect to said actuating-lever, and means for varying the throw of said actuating-lever and thereby varying the charging capacity of the charging-chamber.

31. The combination with a stuffing-material receptacle, a reciprocating charging member provided with a transverse charging-aperture, a reciprocating plunger in said aperture, an oscillatorylever engaging said plunger, said plunger being movable relatively to its actuating-lever, a bracket having an upwardly-opening notch to receive said actuating-lever,and an adjustable set-screw extend ing through said bracket and engaging the margin of the said lever. 32. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism, stuffing mechanism, a movably-supported holder adapted to be moved to and past the said pitting and stuffing mechanisms, said pitting mechanism comprisinga reciprocating plunger, apittingpunch rigidly connected with said plunger, a

spring acting on said plunger to resist elevation thereof, a rotary actuating-cam, a vertically-oscillatory lever actuated by said cam, a pusher-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging the lower end of the plunger to raise said plunger, andmeans for moving said pusherbar out of line with the plunger after the said plunger has been raised thereby.

33. A machine for the purpose stated comprising pitting mechanism,stuffing mechanism, a movably-supported holder adapted to be moved to and past the said pitting and stuffing mechanisms, said pitting mechanism comprising a reciprocating punch, a plunger rigidly connected with said punch, a spring acting on said plunger to resist elevation thereof, a rotary actuating-cam, a verticallyoscillatory lever actuated by said cam, a pusher-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging the lower end of the plunger to raise said plunger,'and means for moving said pusherbar out of line with the plunger after the said plunger has been raised thereby, comprising a cam-plate stationary with the machine and an arm on the pusher-bar engaging said camplate. a a

34:. A pitting mechanism comprising a reciprocatin g plunger, a punch rigidly attached thereto, a spring applied to said plunger to resist elevation thereof, a vertically-oscillatory lever, a pusher-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging at its free end the lower end of said plunger, and means for throwing said pusher-bar out of engagement with the plunger when the plunger has been moved to its highest position by said bar.

35. A pitting mechanism comprising a reciprocating plunger, a punch rigidly attached thereto, a spring applied to said plunger to resist elevation thereof, a vertically-oscillatory lever, a pusher-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging at its free end the lower end of said plunger, and means for throwing said pusher-barout of engagement with the plunger when the plunger has been moved to its highest position by said bar, comprising a cam-plate stationary with the machine-frame and an arm rigid with said pusher-bar engaging said cam-plate.

36. A pitting mechanism comprising a reciprocating plunger, a punch rigidly attached thereto, a spring applied to said plunger to resist elevation thereof, a vertically-oscillatory lever, a pusher-bar pivoted to said lever and engaging at its free end the lower end of said plunger, and means for throwing said pusher-bar out ofengagement with the plunger when the plunger has been moved to its upper position by said bar comprising a camplate stationary with the machine-frame and an arm rigid with said pusher-bar engaging said cam-plate,the adjacent ends of said plunger and pusher-bar being provided with opposing faces capable of engagement and inwardly-facing inclined surfaces whereby said parts may pass into endwise engagement with each other when the pusher-bar is depressed to its lowermost position and out of engagement, when the bar is at the other limit of its movement.

37. The combination with a carrier and the actuating-shaft therefor, of means for moving said shaft step by step comprising a disk rigid with the shaft, a plurality of pins projecting from the face of said disk, a reciprocatory link slotted at one end to receive said shaft, aspring-pressed pawl on the link adapted to severally engage said pins to partially rotate said disk, and a spring-pressed detent adapted to engage one of the pins at the completion of such partial rotation.

38. The combination with a carrier and a shaft for actuating said carrier, of means for rotating said shaft step by step comprising a disk rigid with the shaft, a plurality of pins projecting from the face of the disk, a reciprocatory link slotted at one end to receive said shaft, a spring-pressed pawl on the link provided at its end with a notch adapted to severally engage said pins, whereby, when said link is moved endwise the pawl will act to give said disk a partial rotation, and a stop on the link adapted to engage one of the pins at the completion of such partial rotation.

39. The combination with a carrier and a shaft for actuating said carrier, of means for rotating said shaft step by step comprising a disk rigid with the shaft, a plurality of pins projecting from the face of the disk, a reciprocatory link slotted at one end to receive said shaft, a spring-pressed pawl on said link provided at its end with a notch adapted to severally engage said pins, whereby, when said link is moved endwise, the pawl will act to give said disk a partial rotation, a stop on the link adapted to engage one of the pins at the completion of such partial rotation, and a spring-pressed detent adapted to engage one of said pins also at the completion of each partial rotation and remain in engagement therewith until another partial rotation is imparted to the disk.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of May, A. D. 1901.

SILAS M. BROWN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GERTRUDE 130mm. 

